[Federal Register: May 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 85)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 24099-24101]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my04-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-NM-274-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2 and A300 B4; Model
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (Collectively
Called A300-600); and Model A310 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and
A300 B4; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R
(collectively called A300-600); and Model A310 series airplanes. This
proposal would require an inspection to determine the part number of
certain passenger/crew escape slides; and related investigative action
and corrective action, if necessary. This action is necessary to
prevent the failure of an escape slide to deploy during emergency
evacuation, which could impede an evacuation and result in injury to
flightcrew and passengers. This action is intended to address the
identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 2, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-NM-274-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2003-NM-274-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac
Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Jopling, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2190; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example,
discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change
the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
For each issue, state what specific change to
the proposed AD is being requested.
Include justification (e.g., reasons or data)
for each request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2003-NM-274-AD.''
[[Page 24100]]
The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2003-NM-274-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and A300 B4; Model
A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively
called A300-600); and Model A310 series airplanes. The DGAC advises
that, after a precautionary emergency landing of an A310-200 series
airplane, the left-hand passenger/crew door slide failed to deploy
prior to flightcrew evacuation. Subsequent examination of the affected
escape slide assembly showed that an incorrect girt had been installed
during the last overhaul, which caused the malfunction. This condition,
if not corrected, could result in the failure of an escape slide to
deploy during emergency evacuation, which could impede and evacuation
and result in injury to flightcrew and passengers.
The subject area on certain Model A300 B2 and A300 B4; Model A300
B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called
A300-600); and Model A310-300 series airplanes is almost identical to
that on the affected Model A310-200 series airplanes. Therefore, those
airplanes may be subject to the same unsafe condition revealed on the
Model A310-200 series airplanes.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A300-25A0475, dated October 3,
2003 (for Model A300 B2 and A300 B4 series airplanes); Service Bulletin
A300-25A6184, dated October 3, 2003 (for Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R,
C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series
airplanes); and Service Bulletin A310-25A2165, dated October 3, 2003
(for Model A310 series airplanes). These service bulletins describe
procedures for inspecting to determine the part number (P/N) of the
evacuation slides installed on the passenger/crew doors; and related
investigative and corrective actions for airplanes fitted with Goodrich
slides having P/Ns 7A1296-001, 7A1296-002, 7A1298-001, or 7A1298-002.
The related investigative action is inspecting the slide for
installation of a girt with the correct P/N. If the slide is found to
have an incorrect girt P/N, the related corrective action is returning
the slide to an approved service center for modification, and re-
installing an escape slide with the correct P/N and girt.
These service bulletins reference Goodrich Alert Service Bulletin
7A1296/7A1298-25A345, dated October 15, 2003, as an additional source
of service information for accomplishment of the inspection and
modification.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the Airbus service
bulletins is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe
condition.
The DGAC classified the Airbus service bulletins as mandatory and
issued French airworthiness directive F-2003-435, dated December 10,
2003, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in
France.
FAA's Conclusions
These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of
the actions specified in the service bulletins described previously.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 202 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 work
hours per slide to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$195 per slide.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in
the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other
administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact,
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
[[Page 24101]]
Airbus: Docket 2003-NM-274-AD.
Applicability: Model A300 B2 and A300 B4; Model A300 B4-600, B4-
600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600);
and Model A310 series airplanes; equipped with Goodrich escape
slides; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent the failure of an escape slide to deploy during
emergency evacuation, which could impede an evacuation and result in
injury to flightcrew and passengers, accomplish the following:
Service Bulletin Reference
(a) The term ``service bulletin,'' as used in this AD, means the
Accomplishment Instructions of the following service bulletins, as
applicable:
(1) For Model A300 B2 and A300 B4 series airplanes: Airbus
Service Bulletin A300-25A0475, dated October 3, 2003;
(2) For Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-
600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes: Airbus Service
Bulletin A300-25A6184, dated October 3, 2003; and
(3) For Model A310 series airplanes: Airbus Service Bulletin
A310-25A2165, dated October 3, 2003.
Note 1: These service bulletins reference Goodrich Alert Service
Bulletin 7A1296/7A1298-25A345, dated October 15, 2003, as an
additional source of service information for accomplishment of the
inspection and modification.
Inspections and Corrective Action
(b) Within 180 days after the effective date of this AD: Do an
inspection to determine the part number (P/N) of the passenger/crew
door escape slides. If any Goodrich P/N 7A1298-001, 7A1298-002,
7A1296-001, or 7A1296-002 is found during the inspection, prior to
further flight, do the related investigative action, any applicable
corrective action, and replace the slide with a new or modified
slide which has a girt with the correct P/N. Do all actions per the
applicable service bulletin.
Parts Installation
(c) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
on any airplane a Goodrich escape slide having P/N 7A1298-001,
7A1298-002, 7A1296-001, or 7A1296-002, unless the related
investigative and any applicable corrective action has been done per
paragraph (b) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in French
airworthiness directive F-2003-435, dated December 10, 2003.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 21, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-9903 Filed 4-30-04; 8:45 am]
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